Institute of Baltic Studies

💻 Remote and Hybrid Work at IBS – Balance and Freedom!   In 2024, the debate around limiting remote work sparked conversations worldwide, but at IBS, we’ve been championing location-independent and flexible working for nearly 30 years. Our team members can choose the schedule and workplace that suits them best—whether it’s our beautiful art-filled office in Tartu, their home, a co-working space, or an inspiring spot somewhere in the world. When agreements are honored and traditions connect us, everything works seamlessly. ✨ Traditions that keep us connected: 🌟 End-of-summer strategy day – Setting our goals for the year ahead. 🎄 Christmas celebrations – reflecting on achievements and enjoying time together. At IBS, we value balance between work and personal life. In fact, during the HappyMe work happiness program this year, flexibility was overwhelmingly identified as our leading organizational value. Happy people make happy work! 📸 Check out moments from the journeys of our remote workers Sarah, Maarja, Maarja, and Mele traveling across Estonia to Tartu. A sneak peek at our Christmas party and strategy seminar, and a road trip from South Estonia to Tartu with Anna-Lisa, Elisabeth and Kai. #RemoteWork #HybridWork #IBS #WorkLifeBalance #HappyWork #Flexibility  

🌟 IBS in 2024: Achievements As 2024 comes to a close, we're proud to reflect on a year filled with research, learning, and growth. At IBS, our core activities—talking to people, analyzing data, and writing reports—resulted in 12 completed research papers, one for each month! But our curiosity and drive led us to grow even more fruits on our 2024 tree.   ✨ Highlights from 2024: 🍎 12 completed research reports and 11 new projects initiated. 🍎 24 workshops for female immigrants and 13 lectures at the University of Tartu Narva College. 🍎 Published a comprehensive and visually stunning book on Estonia’s European Union border program. 🍎 Participated in the Paide Opinion Festival with our own panel, proving the value of research as a public sector investment. 🍎 Became a “smart office” with 35 sensors and a weather station installed through the Herit4Ages project.   💙 Happiness and Team Spirit: Our HappyMe survey showed that 67% of IBS employees are absolutely happy at work, with no unhappy team members at all! We also welcomed six interns this year, three of whom will continue with us into 2025.   🌟 Exciting Plans for 2025: The upcoming year promises to be just as dynamic, with IBS contributing to projects like expanding Tartu’s green areas, designing greenhouses with solar panels, and spreading knowledge about green investments.   🎨 Supporting Artists in the AI Age: The beautiful illustration accompanying this post was created by Daria Titova, a Ukrainian artist living in Estonia. Daria titled it "Our Growth in 2024" to symbolize the year's accomplishments. 📝 Read the full story on our blog (in Estonian): https://lnkd.in/dJTa2Zdy   #IBS #Knowledge #Research #TeamSpirit #Growth #LiveArtists

🌍 CeMeWe program Story: Himasha's Journey to Integration in Estonia Meet Himasha Benaragama from Sri Lanka, who has been living in Estonia for 7 years. In our last CeMeWe series video, she shares her top tips for integrating into the Estonian labor market and making a new country feel like home. 💡 Himasha’s Tips for Success: 1️⃣ Stay organized: Keep track of your applications! Himasha created a book with company databases and all the positions she applied for. 2️⃣ Find cultural connections: Exploring the ties between Sri Lankan and Estonian culture helped her feel more at home. 3️⃣ Empower yourself: Women, set your goals and believe in them. "If you have an aim, you can achieve it!" 4️⃣ Keep learning: Continuous self-development is key to thriving in any labor market. 🎥 Watch the video and let Himasha's inspiring journey motivate you to embrace your goals and keep striving! 🇪🇪🌍 This is the final video in IBS’s series, where women who have moved to Estonia share their advice for navigating the Estonian labor market. 👉 Check out the other five videos in the series on the Institute of Baltic Studies' YouTube channel. ✨ Institute of Baltic Studies organizes trainings in 2024 and 2025 to help women who have moved to Estonia enter the labor market. In January register for the next trainings here: https://lnkd.in/dv6bEUMQ ✨ Read more about the Interreg-funded project CeMeWe here: https://lnkd.in/djFyzdid Together, let's help women succeed in the Estonian labor market. Share your thoughts and tips in the comments—let’s inspire each other! #CeMeWe #ExpatWomen #Integration #LifeInEstonia #CareerTips #ContinuousLearning

✨ Nazrin Mehdizade, originally from Azerbaijan, has been living in Estonia for five years. A broad education and work experience taught her how important it is to focus on specific skills and company values when looking for a job. Nazrin's tips for job seekers in Estonia: 📌 Be consistent and aim precisely at what is important for the specific job. Apply for fewer jobs but write your applications with motivation and passion. 📌 Use LinkedIn and CVKeskus.ee, prioritize fresh job postings, and add keywords to your profile to be findable for recruiters. 📌 Be confident — the way you see yourself is how others will perceive you. 📌 Don’t accept the first offer; work is a significant part of our lives, so choose carefully. 🎥 Watch Nazrin’s story and get inspired! https://lnkd.in/dn_ikd5e The Institute of Baltic Studies organizes trainings in 2024 and 2025 to help women who have moved to Estonia enter the labor market. 👉 In January register for the next trainings here: https://lnkd.in/dq9XkZfT 🔗 Read more about the Interreg-funded project CeMeWe here: https://lnkd.in/d79K86TF Together, let's help women succeed in the Estonian labor market! 💼🌟 #ExpatWomen #Empowerment #CeMeWe #Estonia #JobSearchTips #Integration

🌍 Dear expat in Tallinn! How do you feel living in Tallinn? What services could the city improve? Share your thoughts in our survey! 👉 English: https://lnkd.in/d2hy6fSS 🌆 Kallis välismaalane Tallinnas! Kuidas Sa end siin tunned ja mida võiks linn paremini teha? Palun vasta küsitlusele! 👉 Eesti keeles: https://lnkd.in/dBQSxWhF 🏘️ Дорогие иностранцы в Таллинне! Как вам живётся в Таллинне? Какие услуги можно улучшить? Пожалуйста, пройдите наш опрос! 👉 Русский: https://lnkd.in/dGDYDS9b 🌟 Who can participate? Foreigners who have moved to Tallinn since 2016. The survey is available in Estonian, English, and Russian, but you can also respond in your native language. 🔒 All responses are anonymous and will not be shared with third parties. 🧑🎓 Conducted by the Institute of Baltic Studies at the request of the @Tallinn Migration Centre. 💡 Let your voice be heard and help make Tallinn even better!

🌟 A new research paper by IBS: Foster Families' Need for Respite! 🌟 Maarja Kager and Kristiina Toomik from the Institute of Baltic Studies have completed an important study focusing on the respite needs of foster families and developing systemic solutions to support them. 💡 Key Findings: 1️⃣ Foster families face significant emotional and physical strain, especially when caring for children with trauma or special needs. Respite opportunities are critical to preventing burnout and maintaining family balance. 2️⃣ There is a need for a flexible, national respite system that accounts for the specific needs of trauma-experienced children and supports families in both urban and rural areas. 3️⃣ Respite options should be varied and tailored, ranging from short breaks to longer periods, and designed to benefit the entire family, including other children in the household. 4️⃣ Stigma and trust issues often discourage families from seeking support. Building a safe, supportive environment and fostering trust with local governments is essential. 5️⃣ A whole-family approach is vital: Respite services should address the needs of all family members to improve their well-being and encourage the use of available resources. Conclusion: Foster families need a supportive, structured system that prevents burnout, fosters trust, and creates a stable, nurturing environment for children. Respite opportunities must prioritize flexibility, accessibility, and safety to empower families and ensure the well-being of all involved. 💙 At IBS, we believe that every family matters. Let’s work together to create systems that support and uplift foster families. 💗 "If there is space in your heart" - A campaign to find foster homes for the 700 children waiting for a home in Estonia. https://hoolduspere.ee (In Estonian) #IBSResearch #FosterCare #FamilySupport #RespiteCare #ChildWelfare #EveryFamilyMatters

🌍 Today is International Human Rights Day! 🌍   76 years ago, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, establishing the foundation for our modern understanding of the importance of human rights.   At the Institute of Baltic Studies, the topic of human rights has always been a significant focus of our research, especially in the areas of migration and integration. Beyond research, our analysts Kristjan Kaldur and Nastja Pertsjonok are actively involved in educating the next generation.   🎓 At the Narva College of University of Tartu , they lead the course "The Russian Minority in Estonia," exploring the legal, political, and socio-economic status, identity, and Estonian government policies toward the Russian minority.   📋 Last week, students presented their independent research projects, addressing key topics such as: - Media consumption in Russian-speaking communities. - Learning Estonian in Ida-Virumaa. - The relationship of Russian-speaking school graduates with Estonian culture. - The transition of Russian-speaking school graduates into Estonian higher education. 💡 Our work aims to better understand and describe the developments in Estonia, the Baltics, and the world, contributing to building a cohesive, inclusive, and fair society. #HumanRightsDay #HumanRights #Integration #Education #IBS #ResearchForChange

🎥 Meet Dalisa: Tips for Finding Work and Building Connections in Estonia! 🌍 As part of the CeMeWe project, each Friday we're sharing inspiring stories and practical advice from expat women navigating their careers in Estonia. This week, Dalisa Cisneros from Mexico, who has lived here for 9 years, shares her top tips for making connections and finding opportunities. 1️⃣ Engage with your community: Attend events like the Settle in Estonia program, and connect with people who share your interests. Being in the right spaces helps you meet like-minded people and make valuable connections. Pro tip: if you want to meet Estonians, join a choir or a folk dance group! 2️⃣ Build meaningful relationships: Meet other expats to exchange stories and resources, and don’t hesitate to open up about your life. Dalisa met a friend at an Estonian language course, went to a girls' night out, and connected with an HR professional who helped both of them get a job. Friendships often lead to unexpected opportunities! 3️⃣ Stay curious: A heartfelt Facebook post about her vision led to job offers for Dalisa. Pair that with a curious mindset—attend events, have random conversations, and never be afraid to ask for or offer support. MTÜ International Women's Network in Estonia https://lnkd.in/dh3MiFJE 💡 Watch Dalisa’s story and share your own tips in the comments! Let’s support and inspire each other. 🙌 #CeMeWe #ExpatWomen #Networking #CareerTips #LifeInEstonia #SupportEachOther

✨ We are thrilled to announce our cooperation with the SUNSET Doctoral Network of smart and sustainable UniverCities exploring city-university interactions to drive the twin green and digital transition. 🌿 💻 Starting fall 2025, the IBS will proudly host Dr. Ahmed Atia Rezk, a researcher specializing in social and ecological vulnerability at the Mobility Lab, University of Tartu. Dr. Rezk will join our talented team, contributing his expertise to advance sustainable and inclusive urban development, led by Dr Merit Tatar in the IBS. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting partnership and the impactful work ahead! 🌍 ✨ #IBS #Sustainability #SmartCities #SUNSETDoctoralNetwork #GreenTransition #DigitalTransformation

Oled oodatud intervjuule roheinvesteeringute teemal, mille käigus saad ka ise targemaks! 🌍 💬 Institute of Baltic Studies koostöös Saksamaa partneri The 2° Investing Initiative’iga viib läbi uuringut jätkusuutlike investeeringute teemal. Projekt on osa Saksa Liitvabariigi Majandus- ja Kliimaministeeriumi poolt elluviidavast Euroopa Kliimainitsiatiivist European Climate Initiative (EUKI). 💡 Miks osaleda? Tahame mõista, kuidas inimesed tajuvad jätkusuutliku investeerimise eesmärke ja motiive. Eelnev kokkupuude teemaga ei ole vajalik, küll aga annab intervjuul osalemine osalejale uusi teadmisi. 📅 Kus ja millal? Intervjuud toimuvad veebikeskkonnas detsembris ja jaanuaris, võimaluse saavad 25 kiiremat registreerijat. 💳 Tasuks: Iga osaleja saab 15€ kinkekaardi. 📢 Tähtis: Osalemine on täiesti vabatahtlik ja konfidentsiaalne. Kas oled huvitatud? Kirjuta meile aadressil kirill@ibs.ee või jäta oma nimi siinsamas kommentaaridesse, et saaksime Sinuga ühendust võtta ja sobiv vestlusaeg (kuni üks tund) kokku leppida. 🌱 Aita meil jätkusuutliku investeerimise tulevikku selgemaks muuta!